 Chapter
13: Woe to the earth and the sea (continued):
In Chapter 12, we see the fight
taking place between good and evil. The Son
(Jesus) is born into this world and then, following
His crucifixion and resurrection, He is caught up to
heaven "to God and to His throne" (see
Revelation 12:5). The dragon (Satan) is thrown
down from heaven to the earth. Satan is
angry...and sets his sights on the followers of
Jesus. But the followers of Jesus are able to
overcome Satan...not solely on their own, but
"because of the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and
because of the word of their testimony, and they did
not love their life even to death" Revelation
12:11 (NAS).
As we have read in the preface to
the Revelation, the Christians at the time of the
writing of Revelation were suffering intense
persecution. Many were being tortured or put
to death for their testimony of Jesus. In the
words to follow, they will get a glimpse of the
suffering that is still before them...and more
importantly the eventual victory to those who belong to
Christ who endure to the end.
Satan wars against those who keep
the commandments of God and hold the testimony of
Jesus:
 12:17And
the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off
to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep
the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of
Jesus. 13:1And he (the dragon) stood on
the sand of the seashore. And I saw a beast coming
up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads,
and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads
were blasphemous names. 2And the beast
which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were
like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth
of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his
throne and great authority. 3And I saw
one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his
fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was
amazed and followed after the beast; 4and
they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his
authority to the beast; and they worshiped the
beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is
able to wage war with him?" Revelation 12:17-13:1-4
(NAS)
Question:
According to Revelation 13:2-4, who gave authority to this
first beast?
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Then I saw an animal coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven
heads. There was a crown on each of its horns. It had a bad name written on each
head. 2This animal looked like a leopard, with feet like a bear's feet. It had a
mouth like a lion's mouth. The giant snake [on the seashore] gave the animal all
of his power and his throne and great authority.
3One of the heads of the animal looked like it had been wounded and killed. But
this death wound was healed. All the people in the world were amazed, and they
all followed the animal.
4People worshiped the giant snake because he had given his power to the animal.
And the people also worshiped the animal. They asked, "Who is as powerful as the
animal? Who can make war against him?" (ERV) 
And he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of
the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and
upon his heads names of blasphemy. 2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as (the
feet) of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him
his power, and his throne, and great authority.
3And (I saw) one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his
death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;
4and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast;
and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And who is
able to war with him? (ASV) 
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the
sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon
his heads the name of blasphemy. 2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the
feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him
his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound
was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they
worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make
war with him? (KJV)